Troy Seals. Photo: Courtesy of ASCAP
Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member Troy Seals has died at age 86.
During his illustrious career, Seals co-wrote more than 75 charted singles, including 30 top 10 hits and 11 No. 1 records. Among his classics are “Seven Spanish Angels,” “Lost in the Fifties Tonight,” “There’s a Honky-Tonk Angel (Who’ll Take Me Back In)” and “If You Ever Have Forever in Mind.” Troy Seals was also a recording artist and a session guitarist.
The musician was born in Big Hill, Kentucky, and his family moved to Cincinnati when he was 11. Troy Seals began his career at age 17 in 1956. He and his band The Earthquakes performed on the rock & roll nightclub circuit during the 1950s, working with such legends as Fats Domino, Jackie Wilson, Bo Diddley, The Drifters, Lloyd Price, Dorsey Burnette and Chubby Checker.
At one rock & roll show, Seals met rockabilly recording artist Jo-Ann Campbell, who was featured in such teen films as Go, Johnny Go (1958) and Hey Let’s Twist (1961). Not long after Seals and Campbell married, she scored a 1963 country hit with “I’m the Girl From Wolverton Mountain.” Billed as “Jo-Ann & Troy,” the couple had pop success with “I Found a Love, Oh What a Love” in 1964.
After regular appearances on Dick Clark’s TV shows American Bandstand and Where the Action Is, Campbell retired in 1965. Seals gave up music and founded a construction company in 1968. The couple moved to Nashville in early 1969. Troy Seals continued to work in construction, building Music Row’s Quadraphonic Studio. He also took work as a session musician, hoping to break into the country industry.
He began to make inroads as a songwriter in the 1970s. In 1972, Sammi Smith had a top 40 hit with his “Girl in New Orleans.” Waylon Jennings introduced Seals’ co-written ballad “We Had It All” in 1973. Although never a big hit, the song became something of a country standard with subsequent versions by Dolly Parton, Dottie West, Tom Jones, B.J. Thomas, Tina Turner, Donna Fargo and co-writer Donnie Fritts, among others.
Troy Seals recorded his debut album at Quadraphonic in 1973. Titled Now Presenting Troy Seals, the Atlantic Records collection included his version of “We Had It All,” as well as “There’s a Honky Tonk Angel (Who’ll Take Me Back In).”
Another of the artists Troy Seals worked with on the rock & roll circuit was Conway Twitty, who had transitioned into country stardom in Nashville. Twitty took Seals under his wing and in 1974 turned “There’s a Honky Tonk Angel” into the songwriter’s first No. 1 smash. Twitty also had No. 1 hits with the Seals tunes “Don’t Take It Away” (1979), “Red Neckin’ Love Makin’ Night” (1982) and “Fallin’ for You for Years” (1987). Three Troy Seals songs were duet hits for Twitty and Loretta Lynn, “Feelin’s” (1975), “I Can’t Love You Enough” (1977) and “From Seven Till Ten” (1978).
Producer Billy Sherrill recorded Troy Seals as the songwriter’s second album. It was issued by Columbia Records in 1976. Seals also recorded singles for Elektra, RCA, Polydor and several smaller labels. But he became increasingly known for his writing, rather than his recordings.
By the close of the 1970s, Troy Seals was established as a Music Row tunesmith. He worked with a variety of co-writers, most successfully Eddie Setser, Max D. Barnes, Graham Lyle and Mike Reid. Seals and wife Jo-Ann Campbell were also sometimes cowriters. His early songs were recorded by Johnny Paycheck, Jeanne Pruett, Jerry Lee Lewis, Nat Stuckey, Bob Luman and Connie Smith. In 1979, Elvis Presley had a posthumous, top 10 country hit with his revival of “There’s a Honky Tonk Angel.”
The 1980s witnessed his full flowering as a songwriter. During the decade, Troy Seals provided top-10 hits for Charley Pride (1980’s “You Almost Slipped My Mind”), The Bellamy Brothers (1984’s “Forget About Me”), George Jones (1985’s “Who’s Gonna Fill Their Shoes”), Keith Whitley (1986’s “Ten Feet Away”), Alabama (1984’s “When We Make Love”), John Schneider (1985’s “Country Girls”), Ronnie McDowell (1984’s “I Dream of Women Like You”), Lee Greenwood (1986’s “Didn’t We”) and Waylon Jennings (1985’s “Drinkin’ and Dreamin’”).
Between 1980 and 1986, Brenda Lee, David Allan Coe, Johnny Rodriguez, Merle Haggard, Glen Campbell, Dobie Gray and others also issued country singles of Troy Seals songs. In 1985, his co-written “Seven Spanish Angels” became a smash hit for Willie Nelson and Ray Charles. It was nominated as Song of the Year by the CMA and was the biggest country hit of Charles’ career.
Seals songs reached beyond country music. In 1983, Eric Clapton had a pop hit with the songwriter’s “I’ve Got a Rock and Roll Heart.” Over the years, Troy Seals copyrights were also recorded by such pop and R&B stars as Joe Cocker, Millie Jackson, Celine Dion, Three Dog Night, Etta James, Jodeci, Delbert McClinton, Aretha Franklin, The Rolling Stones and Barry Manilow, among others.
In 1985, Ronnie Milsap had a huge hit with “Lost in the Fifties Tonight.” This became the second Troy Seals song nominated for a CMA Award. It won the ACM’s Song of the Year honor, was ASCAP’s Country Song of the Year and earned Milsap a Grammy. It also led to Troy Seals being named Country Songwriter of the Year by ASCAP.
Troy Seals became even more successful in 1987-88, when he co-wrote six top 10 country hits. In addition to Twitty’s “Fallin’ for You for Years,” these included “Maybe Your Baby’s Got the Blues” for The Judds, “Let the Music Lift You Up” for Reba McEntire, “No More One More Time” for Jo-El Sonnier, “Joe Knows How to Live” for Eddy Raven and “I Won’t Need You Anymore (Always and Forever)” for Randy Travis, which won the singer a Grammy Award. During this same two-year span, Seals also provided singles for Gene Watson, The Bama Band and Hank Williams Jr. This era was capped by his induction into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1988.
Troy Seals closed out the 1980s by cowriting a top-10 hit for The Oak Ridge Boys (“Beyond Those Years”) and a No. 1 success for Eddy Raven (“Bayou Boys”). Around this time, the songwriter’s nephew Brady Seals was becoming known at the keyboardist/singer in the band Little Texas. The extended family also included country stars Dan Seals and Johnny Duncan, pop star Jim Seals of Seals & Crofts and hit songwriter Chuck Seals (“Crazy Arms”).
Troy Seals began the 1990s with a flurry of successes. He co-wrote the George Jones/Randy Travis duet “A Few Ole Country Boys,” as well as Eddy Raven’s “Island” and Travis Tritt’s “Looking Out for Number One.” Seals earned his third CMA Song of the Year nomination along with co-writer Vince Gill for 1999’s “If You Ever Have Forever in Mind.”
His 1990s singles also included songs recorded by Faith Hill, John Anderson, Clinton Gregory, John Berry, Neal McCoy, J.P. Pennington, Chris LeDoux, Mike Reid and nephew Brady Seals, who was then recording as a solo artist. The songwriter’s last notable chart success was with his co-written “Good Little Girls,” recorded by the duo Blue County in 2003. At the time, Troy Seals was 65 years old.
Troy Seals died at home in Hendersonville on March 6. He is survived by wife Jo-Ann and by son Troy Jr. Funeral services were private.
Dolly Parton & Good American Team For Limited Edition Jeans Collection
/by Lorie HollabaughDolly Parton. Photo: Courtesy of Good American, shot by Inez and Vinoodh
Dolly Parton has teamed up with apparel maker Good American on a limited-edition new collection, Dolly’s Joleans.
The collaborative jeans features rhinestone-adorned denim, country glam-inspired details, sharp tailored shapes, opulent embellishments and fresh spins on classic fabrics like poplin and denim, each design reflecting Parton’s essence. They bring her genuine and radiant spirit to life.
Good American partnered with Parton on the collection, which is led by Dolly’s licensing agency IMG Licensing. With designs tailored to an array of style preferences and a vast size range, Dolly’s Joleans will be available for a limited time at Good American stores and online. The collection will also be available at Nordstrom on nordstrom.com and in select Nordstrom locations across the country, including at Nashville’s Green Hills.
“Dolly Parton is a true icon whose influence transcends generations, and partnering with her on this collection is an incredible honor,” says Emma Grede, CEO and Co-Founder of Good American. “Together, we created a collection that embodies self-expression and embracing what makes each of us unique.”
“I’ve always believed what you wear should make you feel as fabulous as you truly are, and this brand new line, Dolly’s Joleans, is all about celebrating individuality with a touch of sparkle,” adds Parton. “I’m inspired by Good American’s ability to create clothes that make women feel confident and ready to shine!”
Dom Martinez Signs With Concord Music Publishing
/by Madison HahnenLily Bunta (Concord), Dom Martinez and Brad Kennard (Concord). Photo: Audrey Spillman
Producer Dom Martinez has inked a global publishing deal with Concord Music Publishing, including his full catalog and all future works.
Hailing from Denver and now based in Nashville, Martinez has lent his production talent to a wide array of genres including pop, rap, folk, singer-songwriter and R&B. He is recognized for designing unique and engaging soundscapes by blending genres and musical styles, while crafting an artists’ vision from the start. His works include collaborations with Myles Smith, Caleb Hearn, Braden Bales, Chesle, Asiris, Vwillz and Eli Wilson, among others.
“Dom’s unwavering passion for his craft resonates with everyone he collaborates with, and his enthusiasm for music is truly infectious,” shares Lily Bunta, A&R Manager at Concord Music Publishing. “I am delighted to welcome Dom into the Concord family.”
“Joining the Concord Music Publishing family feels like the perfect next step in my journey as a producer,” adds Martinez. “I’m excited to work with such a creative team and take my music to the next level.”
Industry Ink: Riley Green, Megan Moroney, Ashley Gorley, More
/by Lorie HollabaughRiley Green Celebrates Platinum & Gold
Pictured (L-R): Chase Butler, Big Machine Label Group’s Allison Jones, Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment’s Andrew Thoen, Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment’s Jimmy Harnen, Riley Green, Big Machine Label Group’s Scott Borchetta, Fusion Music’s Daniel Miller and Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment’s Ryan Dokke. Photo: Nick Rau for Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment
Riley Green was recently presented with a plaque commemorating “Worst Way” going Platinum and “Don’t Mind If I Do (feat. Ella Langley)” going Gold. Written solely by Green and tallying more than 300 million streams to date, “Worst Way” is the singer’s fastest-growing song and is currently in the top 20 and climbing. Both solo-written songs are featured on Green’s latest project, Don’t Mind If I Do, which was released this past October.
Green has five nominations at the upcoming 60th ACM Awards for his mega-hit collaboration “You Look Like You Love Me” with Langley, and continues to notch new accolades after garnering more than five billion global career streams.
Megan Moroney Launches “Am I Okay? Tour”
Pictured (L-R, top row): Ken Robold (President & COO, SMN), Taylor Lindsey (Chair & CEO, SMN), Ron Perry (Chairman & CEO, Columbia Records), Julian Swirsky (SVP, A&R, Columbia Records), Megan Moroney, Jen Mallory (President, Columbia Records), Joe Gallo (GM & EVP, Columbia Records) and Caryl Atwood (SVP, Commercial Partnerships, SMN); (L-R, bottom row): Juli Griffith & Hayley Corbett (Management, Punchbowl Entertainment) Photo: Catherine Powell/Getty Images
Megan Moroney recently kicked off her 50-date headlining “Am I Okay? Tour,” and stopped by CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on March 25 to deliver the first-ever TV performance of her streaming hit “Break It Right Back,” a fierce but tender ballad featured on Am I Okay? (I’ll Be Fine), the album’s expanded deluxe edition). During the start to her latest headline run, Moroney performed for a packed crowd at Montreal’s Mtelus followed by two nights at Toronto’s History, then delivered back-to-back shows at Radio City Music Hall March 26-27 in New York City.
AIMP Nashville Hosts Conversation With Master Songwriter Ashley Gorley
Pictured (L-R): Kari Barnhart (Studio Bank), John Ozier (Reservoir), Ashley Gorley, Megan Pekar (Loeb & Loeb LLP), Kendall Lettow (Blue Harbor Music), Courtney Crist (Eclipse Music Group) and Dave Pacula (Liz Rose Music)
The AIMP Nashville Chapter held its “Writing Hits and Cultivating Hit Songwriters: A Conversation with Ashley Gorley” event on March 28 at Live Oak. Moderator Megan Pekar of Loeb & Loeb LLP spoke to Gorley about his career writing hits with artists like Post Malone, Morgan Wallen, Chris Stapleton, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood and countless others. Gorley is ASCAP’s 2024 Country Songwriter of the Year and has been honored with the award 11 times, and will be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in New York this June.
Charley Crockett Makes Tonight Show Debut
Charley Crockett. Photo: Todd Owyoung/NBC
Charley Crockett made his debut on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on March 27 performing “Easy Money,” from his new album Lonesome Drifter. The Texan tapes a new episode of Austin City Limits tonight in front of the iconic Austin skyline background at ACL Live at the Moody Theatre for the show’s 51st season.
SESAC Writers Perform At Analog During Tin Pan South
Pictured (L-R): Lydia Cahill, Scott Jungmichel, Shannan Hatch, Chris DeStefano, Kendell Marvel, Joe Fox, Andrew DeRoberts, ET Brown and Abbey Watson
SESAC affiliates Chris DeStefano, Kendell Marvel, Joe Fox and Andrew DeRoberts took the stage at Analog on the second night of Tin Pan South on March 26 performing a variety of their hits including recent No. 1 “Boys Back Home” recorded by Dylan Scott and Dylan Marlowe (Fox); “II MOST WANTED” recorded by Beyonce and Miley Cyrus (DeRoberts); “Good Girl” recorded by Carrie Underwood (DeStefano) and “Either Way” recorded by Chris Stapleton (Marvel). The show also featured special guests ELEY and Haven Madison, who each took a turn performing with DeRoberts.
AIMP U Offers A Peek Into the Business of Songwriting During Day-Long Event
Pictured (L-R): AIMP Nashville Chapter Board members Melissa Spillman (Concord Music Publishing), Treasurer Kari Barnhart (Studio Bank), President John Ozier (Reservoir), Ree Guyer (Wrensong Music), Leslie Roberts (BMI), Tim Hunze (Big Machine Music) and Leslie DiPiero (The Jonas Group). Photo: Faith Boccarossa for Studio Bank
The Nashville Chapter of the Association of Independent Music Publishers held its first “AIMP U – A Holistic Peek Into the Business of Songwriting” event last week on March 26 at the BMI offices in Nashville. The event was designed to provide an in-depth look at music publishing and records, types of songwriting royalties, how to collect them as an independent creator, and other current topics impacting the songwriting community.
Among the panels was the “Record Deals + Royalties” panel, moderated by Autumn Tallant (A&R, Red Light Management) who spoke with panelists Daniel Lee (Head of A&R, Leo33 Records), Hannah Galluzzi (Director, A&R, EMPIRE) and Stephanie Davenport (Senior Director, A&R, Warner Music Nashville).
Matt Schuster Inks New Management Deal
/by LB CantrellMatt Schuster. Photo: Joshua Erb
Rising country artist Matt Schuster has signed with new management, partnering with Dillon Goldberg of Nashville-based FNGRPRNT.
The Nashville-based management firm also represents Adrien Nunez (Warner Nashville/Warner Records), Graham Barham (Disruptor Records/Sony Nashville) and Steinza (Listen To The Kids/Santa Anna).
In the past year, Schuster has joined Bailey Zimmerman, Jessie Murph, Myles Smith and Walker Hayes as a supporting act on their headline tours. He is currently signed to Warner Music Nashville for records, Universal Music Publishing Group for publishing and WME for booking representation.
“Matt is an exceptional talent with the kind of voice and songwriting ability that cuts through,” says Goldberg. “I’m thrilled to partner with him and help realize the full scope of what he’s capable of.”
“Dillon brings a lot of experience to the table and really understands the landscape of breaking artists in 2025,” shares Schuster. “He gets how music, content, and culture all work together today, and I’m looking forward to building something strong together.”
The Crowe Boys’ Debut Album ‘Made To Wander’ On Deck For June
/by Lorie HollabaughThe Crowe Boys are releasing their UMG Nashville debut, Made To Wander, on June 6.
The 10-track album of self-penned songs from brothers Ocie and Wes Crowe includes their latest single, “Bonfire In My Soul,” along with a new video for the song, the second of a three-video series, out now.
“I wrote this song for people in our circle who were like, ‘you should quit, or you should give up, or, you know, you’re not a man.’ This was me and my wife saying ‘No, this is us,'” says Ocie. “We care about you guys, and your opinions are valid, but this is what we believe for us.’ My hope is that people know it’s okay to ask questions that you’ve been told not to ask your whole life.”
The video for “Bonfire In My Soul” is the second in the duo’s video trilogy and opens to Ocie and Wes’s characters escaping from guards introduced in “Bootstraps.” The brothers begin unraveling a mystery involving new friends, a mysterious map with secret codes, and a time travel device. In the process, Ocie makes a special connection with a girl. As he takes her hand, the couple takes one last look back before running toward their next adventure. The video trilogy is made up of “Bootstraps,” “Bonfire In My Soul,” and “Debris,” out June 6 with the full album.
Made To Wander Track List:
1. Bootstraps (Ocie Crowe)
2. Let Me Feel Alone (Ocie Crowe)
3. Where Did I Go Wrong (Ocie Crowe)
4. Debris (Ocie Crowe)
5. Bonfire In My Soul (Ocie Crowe)
6. Made To Wander (Ocie Crowe)
7. Good Days (Ocie Crowe, Clara Crowe)
8. Brother Song (Ocie Crowe)
9. Lucky To Be Alive (Ocie Crowe)
10. Hello, I Know (Ocie Crowe, Alex Bachari)
Ali Patton Joins PERK PR & Creative As Publicist
/by Lorie HollabaughAli Patton; Photo: Nolan Sritan
Ali Patton has joined PERK PR & Creative Agency as a publicist.
Patton’s prior stops include time at The Nashville Briefing and The 615 House, where she managed social media platforms and curated industry news and updates. Most recently, Patton served as an agent assistant at The Neal Agency, providing administrative support to music agents representing a diverse range of talent.
“This past year for PERK has been a journey – I’m so grateful,” shares Trevor Perkins. “When I met Ali a year ago through various events, I knew that her energy was infectious. Adding her to the team has been one of the best decisions yet. I’m excited to continue to work alongside her and my existing team.”
“I’m excited to join PERK PR and Creative Agency because of its innovative approach and dynamic environment. I’m eager to contribute my skills, learn from a talented team, and help elevate clients’ brands through impactful storytelling,” says Patton.
Weekly Register: Chappell Roan Gets The Job Done On Country Charts
/by John Nix ArledgeChappell Roan
Morgan Wallen keeps the top position on the country albums and streaming songs charts this week, according to Luminate data. His 2023 album One Thing At A Time accrued 45K in total consumption (1.5K album only and 57 million song streams) and his latest song “Just in Case,” jumps to the No. 1 position on the songs chart with 19 million streams.
Further down on the albums chart, Wallen’s Dangerous: The Double Album maintains the No. 2 spot earning 33K in total consumption, Post Malone’s F-1 Trillion sits at No. 3 with 23K in total consumption, Zach Top’s Cold Beer & Country Music rises to No. 4 with 19K and, returning to the chart this week, Zach Bryan‘s American Heartbreak at No. 5 with 19K.
On the songs chart, Wallen usurps Shaboozey at No. 2 with “I’m A Little Crazy” earning 16 million streams, Wallen’s “I’m The Problem” comes in at No. 3 with 14 million streams, Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” drops to No. 4 with 12 million streams and Chappell Roan makes her country chart debut with “The Giver” accruing 12 million streams.
Craig Wiseman Honored With Mississippi Country Music Trail Marker
/by John Nix ArledgePictured (L-R): Stacy Blythe, Jeff Tanner, Austen Adams, Kimberly Gleason, Craig Wiseman, Patch Culbertson, Mike Giangreco and Eric England; Photo: Courtesy of Visit Mississippi
Big Loud Partner and Nashville Songwriters Hall of Famer Craig Wiseman was honored last week with a Mississippi Country Music Trail Marker in Hattiesburg. The marker, located in Midtown Green Park, commemorates Wiseman’s lasting impact on country music as a part of the Mississippi Country Music Trail which celebrates legendary artists, songwriters, venues and landmarks that have shaped the state’s impact on country music.
In addition to the trail marker, Wiseman was presented with a key to the city, and March 27 was officially proclaimed Craig Wiseman day in Hattiesburg in honor of his achievements. Continuing his legacy of philanthropy, the day also included the dedication of the Midtown Green Bandshell in his honor, made possible through his commitment to giving back to his hometown.
“To be honored like this in the place where it all began—it’s hard to put into words,” shares Wiseman. “Hattiesburg gave me the roots I needed to chase big dreams, and I’ll always carry this city with me. This moment, this marker, this bandshell—it all means the world.”
Dylan Scott Notches Sixth No. 1 Country Radio Hit
/by Madison HahnenDylan Scott has earned his sixth No. 1 single on country radio with “This Town’s Been Too Good To Us.” The track has hit the top spot on both the Billboard and Medibase country charts.
Written by Scott alongside John Byron, Ashley Gorley, Taylor Phillips and Charlie Handsome, the tune is Scott’s second No. 1 hit of 2025, and serves as the lead single to his upcoming album Easy Does It, releasing May 30 via Curb Records.
“This No. 1 is special to me!” shares Scott. “A song about where I grew up and the people I grew up with. To be able to have two songs hit No. 1 in 2025 is crazy! I’m grateful for my promo team at Curb who fight for my music every single day and to all the radio stations out there that continue to support my music. Thank y’all!”
“This Town’s Been Too Good To Us” celebrates Scott’s hometown of Bastrop, Louisiana, as reflects on the passing memories that have shaped his identity.
This No. 1 claim also marks Scott as the fourth most played artist at country radio so far this year, following Morgan Wallen, Post Malone and Jelly Roll.
Scott will kick off his “Country Till I Die Tour” this Thursday (April 3) in Boston. The trek will include stops in Toronto, Salt Lake City, Orlando and more. George Birge, Dasha and Graham Barham will join Scott as special guests. Additionally, Scott will also play a headline show at Nashville’s The Pinnacle on Sept. 26 with Birge and Mackenzie Carpenter.
Songwriting Legend Troy Seals Passes
/by Robert K OermannTroy Seals. Photo: Courtesy of ASCAP
Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member Troy Seals has died at age 86.
During his illustrious career, Seals co-wrote more than 75 charted singles, including 30 top 10 hits and 11 No. 1 records. Among his classics are “Seven Spanish Angels,” “Lost in the Fifties Tonight,” “There’s a Honky-Tonk Angel (Who’ll Take Me Back In)” and “If You Ever Have Forever in Mind.” Troy Seals was also a recording artist and a session guitarist.
The musician was born in Big Hill, Kentucky, and his family moved to Cincinnati when he was 11. Troy Seals began his career at age 17 in 1956. He and his band The Earthquakes performed on the rock & roll nightclub circuit during the 1950s, working with such legends as Fats Domino, Jackie Wilson, Bo Diddley, The Drifters, Lloyd Price, Dorsey Burnette and Chubby Checker.
At one rock & roll show, Seals met rockabilly recording artist Jo-Ann Campbell, who was featured in such teen films as Go, Johnny Go (1958) and Hey Let’s Twist (1961). Not long after Seals and Campbell married, she scored a 1963 country hit with “I’m the Girl From Wolverton Mountain.” Billed as “Jo-Ann & Troy,” the couple had pop success with “I Found a Love, Oh What a Love” in 1964.
After regular appearances on Dick Clark’s TV shows American Bandstand and Where the Action Is, Campbell retired in 1965. Seals gave up music and founded a construction company in 1968. The couple moved to Nashville in early 1969. Troy Seals continued to work in construction, building Music Row’s Quadraphonic Studio. He also took work as a session musician, hoping to break into the country industry.
He began to make inroads as a songwriter in the 1970s. In 1972, Sammi Smith had a top 40 hit with his “Girl in New Orleans.” Waylon Jennings introduced Seals’ co-written ballad “We Had It All” in 1973. Although never a big hit, the song became something of a country standard with subsequent versions by Dolly Parton, Dottie West, Tom Jones, B.J. Thomas, Tina Turner, Donna Fargo and co-writer Donnie Fritts, among others.
Troy Seals recorded his debut album at Quadraphonic in 1973. Titled Now Presenting Troy Seals, the Atlantic Records collection included his version of “We Had It All,” as well as “There’s a Honky Tonk Angel (Who’ll Take Me Back In).”
Another of the artists Troy Seals worked with on the rock & roll circuit was Conway Twitty, who had transitioned into country stardom in Nashville. Twitty took Seals under his wing and in 1974 turned “There’s a Honky Tonk Angel” into the songwriter’s first No. 1 smash. Twitty also had No. 1 hits with the Seals tunes “Don’t Take It Away” (1979), “Red Neckin’ Love Makin’ Night” (1982) and “Fallin’ for You for Years” (1987). Three Troy Seals songs were duet hits for Twitty and Loretta Lynn, “Feelin’s” (1975), “I Can’t Love You Enough” (1977) and “From Seven Till Ten” (1978).
Producer Billy Sherrill recorded Troy Seals as the songwriter’s second album. It was issued by Columbia Records in 1976. Seals also recorded singles for Elektra, RCA, Polydor and several smaller labels. But he became increasingly known for his writing, rather than his recordings.
By the close of the 1970s, Troy Seals was established as a Music Row tunesmith. He worked with a variety of co-writers, most successfully Eddie Setser, Max D. Barnes, Graham Lyle and Mike Reid. Seals and wife Jo-Ann Campbell were also sometimes cowriters. His early songs were recorded by Johnny Paycheck, Jeanne Pruett, Jerry Lee Lewis, Nat Stuckey, Bob Luman and Connie Smith. In 1979, Elvis Presley had a posthumous, top 10 country hit with his revival of “There’s a Honky Tonk Angel.”
The 1980s witnessed his full flowering as a songwriter. During the decade, Troy Seals provided top-10 hits for Charley Pride (1980’s “You Almost Slipped My Mind”), The Bellamy Brothers (1984’s “Forget About Me”), George Jones (1985’s “Who’s Gonna Fill Their Shoes”), Keith Whitley (1986’s “Ten Feet Away”), Alabama (1984’s “When We Make Love”), John Schneider (1985’s “Country Girls”), Ronnie McDowell (1984’s “I Dream of Women Like You”), Lee Greenwood (1986’s “Didn’t We”) and Waylon Jennings (1985’s “Drinkin’ and Dreamin’”).
Between 1980 and 1986, Brenda Lee, David Allan Coe, Johnny Rodriguez, Merle Haggard, Glen Campbell, Dobie Gray and others also issued country singles of Troy Seals songs. In 1985, his co-written “Seven Spanish Angels” became a smash hit for Willie Nelson and Ray Charles. It was nominated as Song of the Year by the CMA and was the biggest country hit of Charles’ career.
Seals songs reached beyond country music. In 1983, Eric Clapton had a pop hit with the songwriter’s “I’ve Got a Rock and Roll Heart.” Over the years, Troy Seals copyrights were also recorded by such pop and R&B stars as Joe Cocker, Millie Jackson, Celine Dion, Three Dog Night, Etta James, Jodeci, Delbert McClinton, Aretha Franklin, The Rolling Stones and Barry Manilow, among others.
In 1985, Ronnie Milsap had a huge hit with “Lost in the Fifties Tonight.” This became the second Troy Seals song nominated for a CMA Award. It won the ACM’s Song of the Year honor, was ASCAP’s Country Song of the Year and earned Milsap a Grammy. It also led to Troy Seals being named Country Songwriter of the Year by ASCAP.
Troy Seals became even more successful in 1987-88, when he co-wrote six top 10 country hits. In addition to Twitty’s “Fallin’ for You for Years,” these included “Maybe Your Baby’s Got the Blues” for The Judds, “Let the Music Lift You Up” for Reba McEntire, “No More One More Time” for Jo-El Sonnier, “Joe Knows How to Live” for Eddy Raven and “I Won’t Need You Anymore (Always and Forever)” for Randy Travis, which won the singer a Grammy Award. During this same two-year span, Seals also provided singles for Gene Watson, The Bama Band and Hank Williams Jr. This era was capped by his induction into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1988.
Troy Seals closed out the 1980s by cowriting a top-10 hit for The Oak Ridge Boys (“Beyond Those Years”) and a No. 1 success for Eddy Raven (“Bayou Boys”). Around this time, the songwriter’s nephew Brady Seals was becoming known at the keyboardist/singer in the band Little Texas. The extended family also included country stars Dan Seals and Johnny Duncan, pop star Jim Seals of Seals & Crofts and hit songwriter Chuck Seals (“Crazy Arms”).
Troy Seals began the 1990s with a flurry of successes. He co-wrote the George Jones/Randy Travis duet “A Few Ole Country Boys,” as well as Eddy Raven’s “Island” and Travis Tritt’s “Looking Out for Number One.” Seals earned his third CMA Song of the Year nomination along with co-writer Vince Gill for 1999’s “If You Ever Have Forever in Mind.”
His 1990s singles also included songs recorded by Faith Hill, John Anderson, Clinton Gregory, John Berry, Neal McCoy, J.P. Pennington, Chris LeDoux, Mike Reid and nephew Brady Seals, who was then recording as a solo artist. The songwriter’s last notable chart success was with his co-written “Good Little Girls,” recorded by the duo Blue County in 2003. At the time, Troy Seals was 65 years old.
Troy Seals died at home in Hendersonville on March 6. He is survived by wife Jo-Ann and by son Troy Jr. Funeral services were private.